How Reinforced Concrete Works
Reinforced concrete (RC) is one of humankind’s greatest innovations in building and structures. Thanks to reinforced concrete, enormous and complicated structures are made possible. How it works is relatively simple as the basic concrete composite material encases steel reinforcement for greater strength and more durability. Typically, reinforcing incorporates steel bars – commonly known as “rebar” […]
What is a Mechanical Engineer?
The field of mechanical engineering is an extraordinarily diverse and varied field with many avenues to explore. The basic principle of mechanical engineering is the field of engineering which studies objects and systems that are in motion. A mechanical engineer might study and work on designs which relate to the human body, vehicles or manufacturing […]
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Ideally, all commercial buildings should have a state-of-the-art fire sprinkler system to help save lives and minimize potential structural damage. There are four types of fire sprinkler systems. In this article, we will explore what sets each one apart so you can learn more about the pros/cons of each system. Pre-action Fire Sprinkler The pre-action […]
Taal Volcano
On January 12, 2020, the Teal Volcano erupted. The monolithic giant’s last eruption had occurred in 1977. Residents of the island could feel the excessively loud rumbling in waves. By 2 pm, an even stronger eruption was felt and by 3 pm another powerful eruption sent smoke and ash billowing upwards into the sky that […]
Deadly Storms Sweep the Southeast US
On January 11th, deadly storms descended on the Southeastern United States. Flooding and tornadoes caused extensive destruction leaving 10 people dead. Among the deceased, an elderly Louisiana couple perished when a tornado picked up their trailer and flung the structure 200 feet. The exceptionally strong tornado in Bossier Parish damaged 50 additional homes, many of […]
New South Wales Brushfires
From 2019 to present, the Australian brush-fires have been burning across the continent. As of January 14th, 2020, the fires have consumed over 46 million acres and killed a staggering billion animals. Many of the creatures were close to extinction when the fires started and experts fear that many may be fully extinct. The fires […]
Intense Weather in Los Angeles and Surrounding Areas: December 2019
In December of 2019, Los Angeles, California was pounded by a series of bizarre storm fronts that brought rain, snow, and even a tornado. The unusual weather shocked residents of Los Angeles, California. Many remarked that they had never seen such crazy conditions in the region before. Where Did the Storm Come from and Where […]
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: March 25, 1911
On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Greenwich Village of New York City caught fire. It would become known as the worst industrial fire in the area’s history and one of the deadliest in the nation. The fire caused the tragic deaths of 123 women and 23 men. Most were of Italian and […]
Why are electrical outlets sometimes “upside down?”
Wall Outlet Configuration Have you ever noticed what you consider an anomaly in your home or office? Are the electrical outlets ‘upside down’? Like most people, you probably think that the correct position of an electrical outlet receptacle is with the two vertical slots located at the top and the round ground hole directly below. […]
Why pipes in your home or business freeze
Winter has arrived and you might be worried about the pipes in your home or business freezing. When pipes freeze, they can burst and rapidly flood the structure causing extensive water damage. If there is nobody present at the time of the failure, water will run continuously until it is discovered and the water shut […]